That's because the company is having a hard time reaching content licensing agreements with media companies, sources familiar with Intel's plans tell the Journal.

Intel reportedly has at least one content deal, but is facing difficulties persuading other companies to license individual channels.

Another issue is that Intel has little to no experience delivering products directly to the end user, which has made some television executives feel skeptical.

"Intel can help with a lot of the heavy lifting in technology," former Rovi Vice President of Strategy and Innovation told the WSJ. "But if they think they are going to take on the device that the consumer uses they are wrong."